Combination cutlery tool



Nov. 30; 1954 Filed March 13, 1950 H- C. PLATTS COMBINATION CUTLERY TOOL 2 She etS-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

Harlow C. 8282 2 3 BY ATTORNEY Y- 1954 H. c. PLATTS COMBINATION CUTLERY TOOL Filed March 15 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M W Z.

INVENTOR 321 Ha rlow C'- Plaifs ATTORNEY United States Patent COMBINATION CUTLERY TOOL Harlow C. Platts, Boulder, Colo., assignor to The Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Colorado Application March 13, 1950, SerialNo. 149,421

1 Claim. (Cl. 210-342 This invention relates to a combination tool providing interchangeable hand ax and knife blades.

For a considerable number of years it has been generally recognized that a hand ax and some type of hunting knife were advisable items of equipment for those who engage in hunting or other similar outdoor activi ties. In recent years many different types of hunting knives have been devised to satisfy the demand for suitable instruments of this type. At the same time different types of construction for hand axes have been devised in an endeavor to develop an ax that would be thoroughly suited for its intended purposes. In general the main objects pursued in devising the various new types of hand axes and knives has been to reduce the total Weight of the tools while at the same time providing thoroughly serviceable units of attractive appearance.

In an effort to reduce the over-all bulk and weight of both hand axes and hunting knives, the present inventor has devised a combined tool which efficiently satisfies the purposes of both a hand ax and a hunting knife while effecting a considerable saving in the overall weight and bulk of these articles. Since these tools must be carried over long distances and over diflicult terrain, the advantage of having tools that are light while also being rugged and thoroughly capable of serving their intended purposes is readily obvious.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to reduce the over-all bulk and weight of hunting knives and hand axes by providing a combination tool which effectively satisfies the purpose of both a hunting knife and a hand ax.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combination tool and instrument having separate ax and knife blade members which may be. selectively engaged with and secured to a single handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ax head and a knife blade having similarly shaped shanks or tangs which are selectively engageable in slots provided in a single handle member.

A still further object is to provide novel means for selectively locking either an ax head or a cutting blade in a single handle member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case adapted to enclose and support the combination tool of this invention and further to provide novel forms of construction for knife blades, ax heads and cooperative handle members therefor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the general arrangement of the elements of this invention together with a carrying case;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a knife blade and cooperative knife handle in dissembled relation;

Fig. 3 is an elevation in partial section showing further features of the handle member of this invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the features of an ax head blade member formed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the ax head of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an elevation in partial section showing the handle member and a blade member in cooperative locked position.

Briefly stated the present invention provides a combination tool which may be conveniently carried as a unit in a carrying case. The combined tool and case are of noted that the frame 42 "ice light weight and accordingly readily adapted to use during participation in outdoor sports or activities. As a unit, the combined tool of this invention provides a single handle and separate knife and ax head blade members which are selectively and separately engageable with the handle.

In order to effect the interchangeable engagement of said knife or ax head blade members, the tang of the knife and a tang formed on a shank of the ax head are similarly formed to provide split tangs, one of which is further provided with a notch on its outwardly disposed surface. The divided tang members are adapted for sliding reception in cooperative slots formed in the handle member and a catch is provided on the handle for selective engagement in said notch to secure the knife or ax head blade members in the handle. As further features of this invention, angular surfaces on the tangs and on the handle are designed to force the notch and catch into secure engagement. Further a special built up type of striking member is provided on the ax head which materially reduces the cost of fabrication while providing a suitable type of drive member for the accomplishment of various secondary tasks usually accom plished by ax heads. The carrying case of this invention further provides a compact and light weight unit which enhances the utility of this combination tool.

Referring now to the drawings, the details and features of this invention will be more fully explained. In Fig. 1, the combination tool of this invention is shown in its ax-carrying relation in a carrying case 11. The carrying case 11 is provided with a pocket 12 shaped for the reception of the ax head 13. A flap 14, shown in its open position, is provided to enclose the entire ax head 13 when the ax is moved downwardly into the pocket 12. A knife sheath 16 is attached to the carrying case 11 by means of rivets 17, stitching or the like. The sheath 16 provides a receptacle shaped to cooperatively engage the knife blade 18 which is introduced therein, and the single handle member 19 is further secured to the carrying case 11 by means of a strap 21 having cooperative snap fasteners on the ends thereof.

The exact structural shape of the knife blade 18 and handle member 19 is more clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. In these figures it will be noted that the knife blade 18 is provided with an elongated and rounded cutting edge 23 which intersects the back edge 24 of the knife blade 18 to provide a point 26. Actually the knife blade 18 is of conventional shape.

In order to provide adequate support for the usual cuttlng operations, an elongated and divided tang 27 is formed unitarily with the knife blade 18. In a preferred form the tang 27 is split or bifurcated to form upper and lower tang members 28 and 29 respectively having a slot 31 therebetween. The outermost ends of the tangs 28 and 29 are similarly shaped to provide short rectangular extensions 32 and angular surfaces 33 and 34 adjacent thereto. The outer edge 36 of the lower tang 29 is provided with a notch 37 positioned intermediate the longitudinal extent of said tang.

The handle 19 is of conventional shape providing a grip portion 38, a bolster 39 and a guard 41. In the actual. construction, the bolster is secured to a central frame portion 42 by means of rivets 43 or the like and the guard is secured to the frame 42 by forming a flange 45 on an extension of the frame 42. The grip portion 38 of the knife handle 19 is made up of separate grip pieces 44 of plastic, bone, laminates or other similar materials which are likewise riveted to the opposite faces of the frame 42 by means of other rivets 43. Preferably the frame 42 and the attached grip pieces 44 are cooperatively formed to provide a grip portion 38 which may be conveniently and comfortably held in the users hand.

In Flgs. 3 and 6 the actual construction of the frame 42 1s more clearly shown. In these figures it will be is provided with upper and lower slots 46 and 47 respectively of size: and shape to cooperatively receive the tangs 28 and 29 respectively of the kmfe blade 18. Further a longitudinal wall 48 separatlng the slots 46 and 47 is of such shape and size as to be cooperatively received in the slot 31 between the tangs 28 and 29. Rectangular recesses 49 are pro- When it is desired to 3 vided"at"one"end of"'th'eslots"4'6 and'47' tenths-cooperative reception of the extensions 32 and angularly disposed surfaces 51 and 52 are provided for engagement with the angular surfaces 33 and 34 I [on-the knife blade 18; It is irit'ended that wheii the tanks 28-and 29fof the kniie blade} 18 are 'inserted throughopenings 53 -and -54 in the guard-41 and into the slots 46 and- 47,-the tangs 28 'and'29 which areprefe'rablyof slightly divergent separation will be moved into aligned position when the angular surfaces 33:.and 34 come into mating contact with the 'angiilarsurfaces 5 1- and=-52- of the frame 42. Since the' knife blade-18 -is madeof =relatively resilient mate-rial,thetangs 28 and -29 willg however, tend to return to their natural divergent positions. -This spreading ferce g-when exerted against the angular surfaces 51 and 52 -ten'dsto=-cause outward-longitudinal -movement of--the ta-ngs' 28-and 29 with -respect to'the handle 19. This spring-force and movement-is utilized to provide means for securing-the knife-blade in its engaged position with respect to the handle 19; 1 1n-effecting such utiliZ-ation,--acatch '56 -is-pivotally mountedon-the guard- 41 by meanseof apivot pin 571- in a its-disengaged pesi'tion; the catch is' disposed out-of engagement with-the knife blade -18 substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and- 36 1n itsal-ternate engaged position adjacent-'to-the handle 19,-the catch 56 passes through the opening provided-byothe slot '47 and into engagement with the noteh 3 7 on .-tank 29.--When in this position the spreading tendency-*of the tangs=28 and -29--exerted against--the -angular surfaees-51 and 52 tends to move an inwardly disposed'edg'e 58 of the'notch 37 into engagement with-theoutermostedge 59-ofthe catch 56. This engagement -between the-'notch- 37 and eatch 56, when acting togetherwith 'the cooperative shaping of the tangs-28 and -29-and"the notches-46- and 47, tends to hold the knife' blade 18 iii-secure position with respect to the handle -19.- Accordinglwwhe'n'ever it is desired to uselthe knife-portion-ofthis combination tool, the tangs 28 and ofthe knife' blade 18- are-i-nserted' in the slots 46 and 47 to force-the angular-surfaces 33,34, 51 and 52 into -engagements -*Slight angular pressure exerted on the-knife-blade=l8 causes furtherinward motion of the knife iblade 18 so that the catch 56 may be engaged in the notch 37. v a

remove thefknife blade 18 from the handle- 19, a sligh-t -inward pr'essure isexerted on the knife blade 18 to"-1causerelativedmotion between the angular surfaces=33',= 34, 51 and 52 0f sufficientmagnitude so that-thecatch- 56 maybe moved out-.of engagement-by gripping the atch 56 I ,..,N a, c

When the knifebladelfi is removcdfrom the handle 19, the handle may' b'e ilseditb't grip -bifurcated tangs 28 and 29' 'of an elongated-shank62 of-theaxhead 13.- 111 mannersirnilar to that previouslyl-tdescribedjthetangs ZS' -andr-ZQ' provide a slotfil, -andiextensions 32" of size and -shape corre'spoiiding to the; tangsg-slot andextensions of the "knife blade 18: Further angularl-ydisposed surfaces 33'" and}34 -are provided for coope'rative en gagemerit with :the angula'rly disposed surfaces 51-and=52 of the-frame dl fang 29 further providedlwith a notch 37' on its outwardlydisposed 'edgehaving an edge 58 for engagement with theend 59 of the catch56.

F-urther-features-br ttle ax head--13 are clearly shown in Figs.- 4'-and--5 where it-'willbe noted that theax head 13, the shank-"62andthe tangs 28"- and 29 are formed of a single thickness of material. A curved end 63 of grooves or serrations 61 on the provide a blade or cutting surface at the edge 63. An opposite rounded edge v66 of the ax head 13 provides support for laminated sections 67 of material welded or otherwise bonded to the single thickness of material forming the ax head 13...l;=Thisparticular construction is utilized to form a striking surface 68 made up of the curved edge 66- and cooperative edges of the laminated sections 67. Besides providing such a striking surface 68 which may be utilized for driving nails or other similar purposes, the laminated sections 67 act. as counterbalancing weights which tend to give the ax head 13 a better balance while also increasing the cutting efiiciency of the edge 63.

Since only a single handle is. provided for use with both types of cutting blades, it is readily apparent that the present combination tool materially reduces the weight of necessary equipment. which mustbe carried by those engagedinoutdoor activities; :Furthermince the form. of construction here represented likewise saves considerable weight, it.wil1 be apparent..;that; th e present inventor has satisfied a first object of his invention, kewise it will be apparent that the otherobjectsof t in vention have been fully satisfied by, the devices shown. Further while only. a single embodiment;of. this invention has been shown and described, itwill; be;appa rent to those skilled in the art thatl'thedevice of .this invention is adaptable to. other modifications, and changes. All such modifications .andchanges as arewithin 'lhe scope of the hereunto appended claim are deemed to be a part of this invention.

What is claimed is: w, In anarticle of cutlery'having a relatively res' blade member with. a cuttingzedge, a bifurcated connected to said blade member. providing .a pairo inormally divergent'tangs, one: of said tangshavingan elongated notch in an outwardly;.disposed.edge thereof; said .notch having a length approximately halfg thelength gf the tangs,-said tangs havingangularly dispQSQd surfaces adjacent the ends thereof, .a..handle,ha.vi1 1g slots therein for the reception of,saidtangs, said slots having internal angularly disposed surfaces....for erigaginguthe a g l-arly disposed surfaces on said tangs and-. cooperatlngtherewith for inwardly displacing gthektangs when tsaidgsurfaces are in -intimate relation to positively. align said tangs with'said handle ;slots,an end;piv ote d elongated catch for selective engagement-tin. said-elongated notch, said catch recessing in said notch to. .iOrm a ,portiompfzthe grip. of the handle and securely hold ;the handle ,to th blade,. and exposed easily'accessible gripping; ran for grippingly .removing. :said catch; to "an; alternate posr out of engagement with said notch ,wherrit is desired;to

release and. remove thezblade memben-from the} handle, said catch membercbeing-removable .fr nr-said; notch when the angularly,;disposedvsurfaces are engaged to displace the said tangs inwardly.

nefamicieera the and UNITEDUSTATES PATENTS Number *Name 493,075 Evertzv 1;940,855 Friedman 1,998,188 Dunn 2,018,603 Case et a1 -.Qc 2,182,303 '1 Platte. ":Dec.g;5,; 1,939 2,439,071 Basham Apr. 6, 1948 

